Yah Lah But #776 ft. Mark Tan - Should Retrenchment Benefits Be Law? & Amos Yee Fights Deportation to Singapore
Feb 6, 2026
Mark Tan, founder of Rice Media and a Singaporean digital journalist, joins to debate retrenchment policy and business impact. Short takes on whether payouts should be mandatory, how rules could differ for SMEs and MNCs, and when government should step in. They also tackle Amos Yee’s fight against deportation and public reactions to his possible return.
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Retrenchment Needs Nuanced Framing
- Retrenchment debates are not simply pro-business vs pro-worker arguments and require nuance.
- Mark Tan argues policies should distinguish small businesses from large firms to avoid blunt consequences.
Communication Is The Biggest Failure In Layoffs
- The main harm during retrenchments is poor communication and broken expectations.
- Mark Tan emphasizes clear communication as an employer duty to avoid blindsiding staff.
Require Advance Planning For Big Firms
- For larger firms, require earlier notice and clearer planning for retrenchments to protect workers.
- Terrence suggests differentiated rules for big companies, like advance notice and better processes.